Fire-escape



(N0 Modl.)

W. F. CULLBN.

FIRE ESCAPE.

Patented Sept. 2, 1884.

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W'ILLIAM FIELDS OULLEN, OF LOGANSPORT, INDIANA.'

Fl RE-ESCAPE.

ESPEGIPICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 304,619, dated September 2,188

Application filed November 14, 1883. (No model.)

$0 all whom, it may concern.-

Beit known that 1, WILLIAM F. CULLEN, of Logansport, in the county of Cass and State of Indiana, have invented a new and Improved FireEscape, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to improvements in fire-escapes; and it consists in the peculiar construction and arrangement of parts, as hereinafter fully described, and pointed out in the claims;

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in both the figures.

Figure 1 is partly aside elevation and partly a sectional elevation of abuilding constructed with my improved fire-escape, and Fig. 2 is a horizontal section of the same.

In any approved part of a building, but preferably in one corner, and connecting with the main hall, I propose to construct a fireproof compartment, a, on each floor, forming a series of such compartments, one above another, and extending from the ground floor to the top of the building, or through as many floors as desired, the walls I), floors c, and ceilings or roof d being constructed of fire-brick or other approved fire-proof material; and I construct the same with fire-proof and selfclosing doors 6, communicating with the interior of the building; also with fire-proof and self-closing doors f, opening through the side or sides of the building, on the balconicsg, which I arrange'under the windows of every story of the building above the ground, and to extend all around the building, or as nearly so as is practicable, to enable people to reach the fireescape by the exterior passages when out off from the more direct interior course by fire within the building. I prefer to make the doors of boiler iron and to use double doors with springs z of any approved kind, for closing them self-actingly, one of said doors opening inward and the other outward of the said compartments, whereby the fire is more effectual 1y prevented from entering the compartments when the occupants are passing out from the same, as the compartments will be practically closed at all times. Within the compartments I construct iron, stone, or other fire-proof stairs j from one story to another, and, in case an elevator is used, will arrange the way k for the same in said compartments, and build it of fireproof material, so that the elevator will also be available for escape, and will itself be protected from the fire, and thus will not constitute a flue that accelerates the fire, as elevator-ways generally do.

This device affords, practically, the advan-' tages of a complete fireproof building, so far as protection from fine is concerned, without the cost of constructing the whole building fireproof, and it may be readily built into buildings already constructed.

It is evident that the said device will afford easy and safe means of escape for women, children, and other weak and timid people.

In practice it is designed to make'the compartments of sufficient size to contain at once as many people as are likely to occupy afloor of the building at any one time, so that all can at once escape into the compartment; and the door may be quickly closed behind them, to exclude the heat, smoke, and fire. Vhen once within the compartment, it is evident that fireanywhere or on any floor of the building will not prevent the safe descent of the people at leisure, even though the fire may be burning fiercely on the lower floors in close proximity to the compartments. The floors of the different compartments being fireproof precludes all possibility of danger to those within the escapechambers and stops all draft of heat or smoke. The chambers being of sufficient size to accommodate the occupants of the different floors prevents the fearful rush for life 1. An improved fire-escape consisting of a series of fireproof compartments, a, arranged one above the other upon the several floors of I00 abuilding, andeach providedwith self-closing ing doors communicating with the different doors, the several compartments communidoors of the building, also with exterior balcating with each other and provided with coniesarranged alongthe sides ofthebuilding, means of escape from one compartment to the under the Windows of the same, and also hav- I 5 5 other, substantially as herein shown and deing stairs connecting the several compartments scribed. of the series, for escape to the ground, sub- 2. The improved fire escape herein destantially as hereinbefore set forth. scribed, consisting of a series of fireproof WILLIAM FIELDS GULLEN. compartments, a, arranged one above another, \Vituesses: IO in a corner or other convenient part of the CHARLES XV. OvERLEY,

building, and having fire-proof and self-clos- XVILLIAM REED. 

